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Best DIY home security system for existing smart homes
Abode Smart Security Kit
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What is the best overall DIY home security system?
There’s a lot you can do to safeguard your home but a lot of it will be really costly. A security system that you need to get professionally installed, for example, will typically have a high equipment cost and a hefty installation fee. But what if you want home security on a budget? The DIY route to installing a security system might be the best option for you. After all the money and effort you put into your home, the last thing you want to do is leave it unprotected.
You’re not going to miss out on all that much by skipping a professional install, either. DIY home security systems have advanced quite a lot in recent years. Whether you’re considering motion sensors, security cameras to full-on alarm systems the options are never-ending. Of course, that means there are a lot of choices to be made, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
The CNET team has spent hundreds of hours testing the best DIY home security systems over the past seven years, landing on the reliable, affordable and expandable eight-piece, second-gen Ring Alarm Kit as our favorite. That said, the right system for you will depend on your individual needs. Our guide to the best DIY home security systems has a few other options, ranked, so you can make your pick.
If you live in an apartment, don’t worry; we’ve got DIY home security systems for apartments, too. We also have options for people who already have a lot of smart home tech, along with tips on what to look for when you shop. If you want to start a little smaller, check out our lists of the best indoor security cameras and outdoor security cameras, as well as our rundown on the cheapest home cameras. See below to learn more about the best DIY home security systems for you.
Read more: How to Turn Your Old iPhone or Android Into a Home Security Camera for Free
A quick note about DIY: In this context, DIY means that you pick out products yourself and install them yourself, handling both the physical hardware and setup via the app. Although these DIY systems are often wireless and may use quick installation options like adhesive, that’s not guaranteed for every system, although it’s true of many of our picks below. You won’t have to arrange for a professional to visit your home or give you a quote to take advantage of these systems, and they won’t lock you into any contract. And although the subscriptions aren’t required here, they do add some useful features.
Best DIY home security systems of 2024
This eight-piece Ring Alarm system offers an excellent kit for smaller homes at a reasonable price, with a reliable platform that can easily connect to any Amazon Echo or Alexa devices you may have (if you choose a subscription). The kit includes a base station, a keypad for arming/disarming, four contact sensors for guarding various entry points, a motion detector and a range extender if your Wi-Fi network doesn’t quite reach the outskirts of your home where you’d like to place sensors.
Ring’s app offers a simple setup process that first-timers shouldn’t have much difficulty with. If you’d like to add other devices over time, Ring products like a Ring video doorbell or a Ring security camera will happily work with your app and may connect to the hub as well. Other smart home products may not be as compatible — parent company Amazon prefers to keep Ring within its own ecosystem of products, so integrations with platforms like Google Assistant aren’t possible.
Finally, the Ring Protect plan offers a few extras at its lowest tier, but things get much more interesting at the $20 per month Pro plan, which adds home monitoring that can be a valuable add-on for those who want professional responses during emergencies.
The Ring Alarm Pro is similar to our top Ring Alarm pick but with a few key differences. It’s more expensive, and the primary reason is its included Eero Wi-Fi 6 router. For some people, that’s great: Wi-Fi 6 is the latest router standard that many people still haven’t upgraded to, and you don’t have to worry about choosing a new router separately. For others who have a preferred router brand or already have a Wi-Fi 6 router, the Pro package presents a problem, because some features won’t work without this particular router.
Otherwise, the Pro system includes a keypad, four contact sensors and a motion sensor as well as an alarm range extender (although the kit doesn’t include alarm sensors so you’ll need to buy these separately). Again, it’s a great package for Alexa users and those who are interested in adding more Ring or Amazon products down the road.
SimpliSafe was one of the first DIY home security systems to hit the market and is a reasonable alternative to ADT and other professional alarm company firms. That’s due in large part to this home security system’s affordable cost and wide variety of accessories. SimpliSafe makes a variety of different starter kits that usually start at around $320, and you can often get them for less through discounts.
SimpliSafe’s impressive array of accessories such as indoor and outdoor security cameras, key fob, additional motion sensors, smoke detectors, glass break sensors and siren, and its solid performance for the price makes it an easy choice. A subscription plan is necessary to get all features, and those start at around $10 per month for self-monitoring.
Arlo, the maker of one of our favorite outdoor security cameras, introduced its home security system in 2022 and it immediately stood out for its All-in-One sensors. While most home security sensors serve a single purpose such as motion or sound detection, the Arlo All-in-One sensors are capable of eight different detection functions. The sensors can detect motion and sounds such as smoke or CO alarms, plus changes in ambient light or temperature. That’s great if you have a small place like an apartment, dorm or bedroom and want quick sensor placement that can do a little of everything, anywhere.
If you want to go bigger, it’s easy to customize the system by adding Arlo cams or doorbells that will also work with the hub. You don’t need an Arlo Secure plan for basic features, but if you branch out we suggest it to get extras like video storage.
The Abode Smart Security kit is slightly smaller than our other picks, providing a hub, one mini door/window sensor, a motion sensor and a key fob. You can easily purchase separate sensor packs to expand it, and even its slimmed-down kit offers serious advantages. Notably, it’s one of the few DIY systems that works well with Apple’s Home app and Siri. That’s only the beginning of Abode’s smart home integration, which also supports numerous products from Sonos, Bose, Yale, Schlage, Philips Hue, Ecobee and many more. That makes it the perfect fit for someone who already has a family of (random) smart devices to link up.
Abode’s standard subscription plan includes video storage and enables much of that smart home integration, so we highly suggest considering it. The much more expensive Pro plan gives you professional home monitoring but not many other notable additions.
DIY home security systems compared
| Best DIY home security systems | Ring Alarm (2nd-gen) | Ring Alarm Pro | SimpliSafe (8-piece set) | Arlo Home Security | Abode Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System price | $250 | $300 | $320 | $200 | $280 |
| Monitoring price | $20/month | $20/month | $32/month | $25 | $229 (annual plan only) or $19/month |
| Starter equipment | Door/window sensors, motion detectors, a keypad, a siren and optional professional monitoring subscriptions | Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh router, door/window sensors, motion detectors, a keypad, a siren and optional professional monitoring subscriptions | 1 base station, 1 keypad, 1 motion sensor, 3 entry sensors | 1 keypad control panel, 2 All-in-One sensors | 1 base station, two mini door/window sensors, 1 glass break sensor, 1 motion sensor, 1 key fob |
| Contract required? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Extra features | Cellular-powered backup Wi-Fi, network security monitoring, local processing, storage for all of your Ring devices | Cellular-powered backup Wi-Fi, network security monitoring, local processing, storage for all of your Ring devices | Customizable system, built-in Wi-Fi and cellular, integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | 24/7 emergency response, smart interactive notifications, cellular and battery backup, integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | 24/7 emergency response, smart detect notifications, cellular and battery backup, integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, broad smart home compatibility |
| Review score | N/A | 9 | 8.5 | N/A | 7.9 |
When selecting a home security system, the first decision to consider is usually whether you want a DIY or a pro system. Since you’re here, you’ve probably already decided to go the DIY route, so here are some more parameters to consider when shopping around for home security systems.
Equipment and installation
Do you just need to keep watch over your entryways? A good video doorbell for your front door and an outdoor camera covering the back may be all you need; easy to install and monitor yourself. If you want to keep closer tabs on your home inside and out with 24/7 monitoring and quick access to emergency response services, you’ll want a more robust system. Most DIY (and professional brands too) offer home security bundles with most, if not all, of the equipment you’d need to get started and the ability to add single devices as needed.
Smart home compatibility
Most home security devices are compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart hubs, but if you prefer Apple HomeKit or another smart home ecosystem, you may have to do a bit more shopping and comparing to find a system compatible with your existing smart home devices. Don’t fret over compatibility too much, as Matter will make it easier to connect previously incompatible devices.
Costs, upfront and ongoing
We listed “cost” last here for a reason. A complete home security system will likely cost you at least a couple of hundred bucks, so be prepared for that. There’s the potential to spend lots more on equipment, or a lot less; you can find cameras for under $30.
Find your budget range and compare systems in that range across brands. For a home security kit, most starter bundles fall in the same range. If you’re comfortable with self-monitoring, DIY systems may not come with any ongoing costs. Monthly subscriptions (without a contract) for cloud storage, enhanced features and possibly even professional monitoring are typically an option with DIY systems, often for lower monthly fees than professional services.
Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of any home security products. In short, when it comes to home security systems, we pay special attention to the user experience, the promised features, reliability and overall value, along with a few other elements. We do the testing in a real home environment over at least a full week. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security systems and services.
The above systems weren’t the only DIY options we explored. Here are other competitive security systems we took a look at, and why they didn’t quite make our list.
Cove: Cove’s standard lineup is fine, but its generic quality struggled to compete with our picks. If you can’t really find what you’re looking for on our list, stop by Cove to check how its kits fit.
Lorex: Lorex is an excellent home security option for those who prefer sticking with local storage. It is a bit expensive compared to other DIY systems and may require working with its somewhat clunky recorder.
Frontpoint: Frontpoint has a strong array of kits, but like ADT, its massive home monitoring fees (starting at $50) are too difficult to recommend.
Kangaroo: Kangaroo has budget-friendly systems but struggles with design quality. If you want to save as much money as possible, you may want to give it a try.
Wyze: Wyze offers a great starter home kit, but its current security flaws keep it off our list for now.
How do I choose the best DIY home security system?
Is it better to have professional home security service over a DIY version?
How much do DIY home security systems cost?
